Atlantic Hurricane Outlook – August 12, 2025: Tropical Storm Erin Strengthens; Gulf & Florida Remain Calm

Tropical Storm Erin strengthens in the eastern Atlantic with hurricane potential, while the Gulf of Mexico and Florida remain calm. Here’s today’s August 12, 2025 hurricane update.

TLDR Version; Click Here

Tropical Storm Erin, the fifth named storm of the 2025 season, has formed and is steadily intensifying in the eastern Atlantic. No tropical systems are currently threatening U.S. coastlines, but the atmosphere is becoming more favorable for additional activity later in the week.

Atlantic Basin Summary

  • Tropical Storm Erin is centered roughly 560 miles west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving west at 22 mph with sustained winds near 45 mph. Models suggest Erin could strengthen into a hurricane within the next few days and potentially become the season’s first major hurricane. Forecasters anticipate a gradual curve to the northwest later in the week, keeping land impacts unlikely for now.

  • While Erin organizes, no other significant systems are expected to develop across the Atlantic this week, though other waves are being monitored as conditions continue to evolve.

GEPS Track Model for TS Erin August 12, 2025

GEFS Track Model for TS Erin August 12, 2025

Gulf of America (Mexico) & Caribbean Conditions

  • Gulf of America (Mexico): Stable weather with no tropical threats. Sea surface temperatures remain elevated—around 2°F above average in early August —but without supportive atmospheric dynamics for development.

  • Caribbean Sea: General trade wind flow continues, with only typical convective activity. No organized disturbances are present.

Sea Surface Temperature imagery courtesy of Windy.com

Wind courtesy of Windy.com

GOES - GULF Sandwich August 12, 2025

GOES - Caribbean Sandwich August 12, 2025

Florida Outlook

  • Forecast for Today: Expect typical mid-August weather—hot, humid, and afternoons marked with scattered sea-breeze thunderstorms that are inland-driven, not tropical. No storm threats are forecasted for the Sunshine State today.

Rain forecast visualization courtesy of Windy.com

Outlook Summary & Preparation

  • Erin is likely to become a hurricane, but initial tracks keep it far from U.S. landmasses.

  • Conditions across other tropical basins are quiet but trending toward increased activity as the season progresses.

  • Watch and prepare calm: Summer heat and moisture supply are ample—ensuring your supplies and plans are ready strengthens resilience.

TL;DR – August 12 Snapshot

  • Tropical Storm Erin forming and intensifying; likely to become hurricane/maybe a major one.

  • No U.S. impacts expected in the near term.

  • Gulf and Florida calm—just routine summer storms.

  • Season building toward higher activity later this week.

Stay vigilant and stay updated with Cat5Prep.

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Atlantic Hurricane Outlook – August 5, 2025: Dexter Weakening, Two Other Areas Monitored

Tropical Storm Dexter weakens far from land, while two other systems—one off Africa and one near the Southeast U.S.—are being watched. Although development chances remain modest, conditions are expected to become more favorable later this month.

Tropical Storm Dexter is slowly weakening but not yet dissipated, while two additional disturbances now carry up to a 30–50% chance of development within the next week. Environmental conditions remain a limiting factor for most areas, but shift slowly toward greater activity as August progresses.

Atlantic Basin Summary

Tropical Storm Dexter
Located roughly 250–275 miles north-northwest of Bermuda, Dexter has maximum sustained winds near 45 mph and is moving northeast at ~12–15 mph. While it is weakening, it may reintensify as a post-tropical cyclone late this week, posing no direct land threat.

Other Areas Under Watch

  • A low-pressure area offshore of the Southeast U.S. (Invest AL95) carries a 30% chance of development over 7 days. Slight organization is possible as it moves eastward, but land impacts are unlikely.

  • A tropical wave near ~30°W off Africa shows scattered convection and is assigned a 50% chance of development within 7 days, reflecting improving model support.

Key Environmental Conditions

*In the upper right corner of the below screens, toggle with the +/- icons

  • Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs):
    Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and MDR waters range between 29–31 °C (84–88 °F)—ample heat energy for storm formation if atmospheric conditions cooperate.

  • Wind Shear:
    Wind shear remains moderate to high across much of the Atlantic, especially in the central basin, limiting storm organization despite occasional lower-shear pockets emerging near the western Gulf.

  • Saharan Air Layer (SAL):
    A large SAL plume continues across the eastern and central Atlantic. Its dry, dusty air suppresses convection and hampers the vertical growth of tropical disturbances.

  • Moisture:
    While mid-level humidity is increasing over the western tropical Atlantic, SAL and shear are keeping much of the central MDR too dry for sustained thunderstorm development.

SST data courtesy of Windy.com

Wind data at 850 hPa courtesy of Windy.com

Dust & SAL data from Windy.com

Relative Humidity (700 hPa) data courtesy of Windy.com

Gulf of America (Mexico) & Caribbean Overview

  • No disturbances are currently being monitored.

  • A stationary front and ridge of high pressure maintain light to moderate winds and calm seas across the Gulf and Caribbean.

  • Scattered showers remain typical for early August and are not linked to tropical systems.

GOES-19 - Sector view: Gulf

GOES-19 - Sector view: Caribbean

Florida Forecast

  • Highs: Near 90 °F with high humidity.

  • Afternoon thunderstorms: 40–50% chance from sea breeze activity.

  • Winds: Light and variable inland, shifting southeast near the coast.

  • No tropical storm impacts are expected today.

Rain forecast visualization courtesy of Windy.com

Prep Tip of the Day

Make sure your alert systems are working and up-to-date: test county-level emergency alerts, NOAA weather radios, and storm tracking apps. Confirm evacuation plans with household members and review where supplies are stored.

Outlook

Dexter poses no threat to land, but the tropical wave near Africa and Invest off the U.S. Southeast coast warrant close attention. August is historically when activity ramps up; conditions may become more favorable later in the week.

TL;DR – August 5 Snapshot

  • Tropical Storm Dexter weakening, drifting north but may reintensify offshore.

  • Two areas monitored: AL95 (30% chance) and African wave (~50% chance) for potential development.

  • SSTs remain warm, but SAL and wind shear continue to suppress many systems.

  • No tropical threats to Florida today—just typical summer storms.

  • Expect activity to increase as August progresses.

Stay ready and informed with daily updates at Cat5Prep.com.

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Atlantic Hurricane Outlook – July 30, 2025: Development Chances Remain Low

As July ends, the Atlantic Basin sees active tropical waves, but development chances remain low for the next 7 days. Discover the latest on sea surface temperatures, wind shear, Saharan Air Layer, and the outlook from CAT5Prep.com.

*Those who like data, continue reading. Those it prefer the quick version, jump to the TL;DR here.
** Due to technical issues on the GOES satellite imagery provider's end, we are currently unable to display real-time satellite imagery.

The Atlantic Basin remains active with multiple tropical waves stretching from the African coast to the Caribbean, yet no organized development is expected in the near term. Wind shear and Saharan dust continue to suppress cyclone formation despite warm ocean temperatures and a moistening atmosphere in the western basin.

As we close out July, conditions are slowly trending toward a more favorable setup for storm development heading into August.

Atlantic Basin Overview

As of the 8:00 AM EDT NHC Tropical Weather Outlook:

  • No active tropical cyclones.

  • Three tropical waves span the Atlantic:

    • Wave near 35°W (eastern Atlantic): Disorganized, little convection.

    • Wave near 50°W (central Atlantic): Producing scattered thunderstorms, no surface low.

    • Wave in the eastern Caribbean: Weak and encountering dry air and shear.

NHC Development Odds:

  • Next 48 hours: 0%

  • Next 7 days: 0%

Key Environmental Factors

SST data courtesy of Windy.com

Wind data at 850hPa from Windy.com

Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs):

  • 29–31°C (84–88°F) in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

  • MDR remains slightly warmer than normal.

Wind Shear:

  • Moderate across the central Atlantic and Caribbean.

  • Suppressing vertical development for now.

Saharan Air Layer (SAL):

  • Strong dry air across much of the basin.

  • Limiting convection and keeping tropical waves disorganized.

Moisture:

  • Gradually increasing in the western Atlantic and Caribbean.

  • A factor to monitor as wind shear begins to ease.

Dust & SAL data from Windy.com

Relative Humidity (700 hPa) data courtesy of Windy.com

Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)

  • A weak surface trough in the central Gulf is producing scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

  • No signs of organization, and the NHC does not expect development at this time.

  • High pressure remains dominant elsewhere, with calm conditions expected through midweek.

Florida Weather

  • Highs in the upper 80s to low 90s with high humidity.

  • Scattered thunderstorms possible in the afternoon and evening from sea breeze interactions.

  • No tropical threats to Florida at this time.

Radar imagery courtesy of Windy.com

Outlook & Preparedness

The Atlantic remains broadly quiet for now, but the environment is slowly shifting. A steady wave train emerging off Africa and increasingly favorable SSTs point to a more active window in early to mid-August.

Now is the time to double-check hurricane kits, review evacuation zones, and prepare while the weather allows.

TL;DR – July 30 Snapshot

  • No tropical development expected this week.

  • Three tropical waves are present but remain weak and disorganized.

  • SAL and shear are limiting development.

  • Conditions should become more favorable by early August.

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Atlantic Hurricane Outlook – July 28, 2025: Waves Active, Tropics Stable for Now

Tropical waves are stirring across the Atlantic, but no development is expected over the next 7 days. Warm waters and weakening wind shear suggest conditions could shift heading into August.

*Those who like data, continue reading. Those it prefer the quick version, jump to the TL;DR here.

As the final days of July unfold, the Atlantic basin remains active with several tropical waves but no immediate threats. While sea surface temperatures and atmospheric moisture continue to support development, upper-level wind shear and dry air are keeping conditions broadly stable—though this pattern may shift as we enter August.

Atlantic Basin: Multiple Waves, No Cyclones (Yet)

As of 8:00 AM EDT from the National Hurricane Center:

  • No active tropical cyclones

  • Two tropical waves are under watch:

    • Tropical Wave 1: Located near 40°W, moving westward at 10–15 kt with scattered convection. Still disorganized but under observation.

    • Tropical Wave 2: Recently emerged off Africa near 23°W, with convection along its southern flank. It’s embedded in a moist environment and will be monitored for future development.

  • No development expected over the next 7 days, but long-range models suggest increasing favorability for late next week.

Gulf of Mexico: Moisture Returns, But No Development

  • A weak surface trough lingers in the Bay of Campeche, producing isolated showers and thunderstorms.

  • No signs of tropical development at this time.

  • Expect scattered showers and storms across the eastern and central Gulf through Tuesday, driven by daytime heating and lingering mid-level moisture.

Caribbean Sea: Typical Summer Conditions

  • Fresh to strong trades continue in the central and southwest Caribbean, particularly off the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela.

  • Some isolated thunderstorms are active near Panama and the Windward Passage.

  • A tropical wave moving through the eastern Caribbean is enhancing convection, but remains disorganized.

Atlantic Main Development Region (MDR): Slowly Activating

  • Sea surface temperatures (SSTs):

    • MDR: 28–29°C (82–84°F), well above climatological norms.

    • Gulf and Caribbean: 30–31°C (86–88°F), fuel-ready.

  • Saharan Air Layer (SAL): Dry air continues to suppress convection over much of the MDR, but signs show it is beginning to weaken, allowing thunderstorm clusters to persist longer.

  • Wind shear: Still present in the central Atlantic, but trending downward.

SST data courtesy of Windy.com

Dust & SAL data from Windy.com

Wind data at 850hPa from Windy.com

Florida Outlook: Typical Late-July Storms

  • North Florida: Partly sunny with highs in the upper 80s. Afternoon storms possible.

  • Central Florida: Hot and humid (highs ~91°F) with scattered PM thunderstorms likely.

  • South Florida: Muggy with highs in the upper 80s. Thunderstorms expected after 2 PM.

Radar imagery courtesy of Windy.com

Prep Tip of the Day: Inventory Your Storm Gear

Now is a good time to audit your hurricane kit:

Looking Ahead: Eyes on Early August

  • While July is ending quietly, model ensembles hint at better organization potential in the MDR during the first 7–10 days of August.

  • A Kelvin wave (a burst of upper-level moisture and instability) may traverse the Atlantic next week, setting the stage for more robust wave activity.

TL;DR – July 28, 2025 Hurricane Snapshot

  • No active storms or tropical depressions

  • Two tropical waves being watched, neither near development

  • Gulf and Caribbean: Moist, unsettled, but not organized

  • MDR: Warm and slowly transitioning to a more favorable pattern

  • Florida: Classic summer pattern — hot, humid, and stormy afternoons

  • Outlook: Low risk this week, but August may bring change

Stay informed at Cat5Prep.com, and use this calm to finalize your preparations.

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Atlantic Hurricane Outlook – June 19, 2025: Still Down South – Pacific Watches Erick

The Atlantic remains storm-free, but Hurricane Erick—a powerful Category 4 storm—gains strength in the Eastern Pacific. Learn what this means for the Atlantic basin and why now is the time to prepare.

The Atlantic basin remains quiet today, with no active tropical cyclones and no development expected over the next 7 days, according to the National Hurricane Center’s latest 2 AM and 8 AM EDT outlooks nhc.noaa.gov. While the Atlantic sleeps, attention is turning to a powerful system in the Pacific.

Atlantic Basin: Calm Waters, No Alerts

There are still no named storms or areas under tropical monitoring. The graphical and textual 7-day outlooks show zero development chance, meaning the basin continues its quiet stretch early in the season . Early June silence isn’t unusual—but with warm seas in place, conditions could shift quickly.

Satellite view via Windy.com

Pacific Perspective: Erick Now a Category 4

In the Eastern Pacific, Hurricane Erick has rapidly intensified into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm with 145 mph sustained winds, now only about 70 miles west-southwest of Puerto Ángel, Mexico, heading for landfall.
This storm is expected to bring destructive winds, brutal rainfall (8–16 inches), mudslides, and severe coastal flooding across southern Mexico.


Sea Surface Temperatures: Atlantic Warming Continues

  • Gulf & Western Caribbean: SSTs remain warm at 84–88 °F, maintaining energy supply for potential tropical systems.

  • Main Development Region (MDR): Ocean temperatures are also above normal, setting the stage for Atlantic activity later in the season.

Sea Surface Temperature via Windy.com

Atmospheric Conditions: Suppressive Air Masses

Wind Shear Courtesy of https://tropic.ssec.wisc.edu/

  • Wind shear: Still moderate to high across key development areas, limiting near-term storm formation.

  • Saharan Air Layer (SAL): A persistent dust plume continues to suppress early-season activity in the eastern Atlantic.

  • Moisture: Slowly increasing in the Gulf and western Caribbean, helping build storm potential.

Saharan Air Layer (Dust) via Windy.com


Daily Weather: Standard June Patterns

  • Florida & Southeast U.S.: Afternoon and evening thunderstorms remain widespread but non-tropical.

  • Caribbean & Atlantic: Quiet and storm-free, with no signs of developing systems.

  • Air Quality: Possible haze in Florida due to advancing Saharan dust.

Thunderstorm Forecast (ECMWF) via Windy.com

Florida Forecast (June 19)

  • Highs: Upper 80s to low 90s °F (31–33 °C)

  • Humidity: High—typical muggy summer

  • Rain: Scattered PM showers and thunderstorms

  • Visibility: Hazy in some areas

  • Winds: Light, occasional gusts near storm cells

Rainfall Forecast (ECMWF) via Windy.com

Prep Tip of the Day: Cross-Basin Awareness

Even without Atlantic storms, Pacific activity underscores a critical point:

  • Monitor systems across basins, not just the Atlantic

  • Understand conditions building globally—warm seas, dust, wind shear shifts

  • Use this calm time to update emergency contacts, test NOAA radios, and finalize supply kits

Looking Ahead: Calm Now, But It Won’t Last

No Atlantic activity is expected this week, but elevated ocean temperatures, decreasing wind shear, and diminishing dust suggest a shift is coming. Hurricane Erick in the Pacific could hint at similar atmospheric boosts affecting the Atlantic soon.

Stay tuned for daily updates from Cat5Prep.com—the next tropical trigger could arrive sooner than you think.

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